Portable, free-standing, grab bar/handrail assist assembly for bathtub and shower enclosures

ABSTRACT

A portable, free-standing, grab bar/handrail assist assembly for placement within the confines of a bathtub or shower enclosure comprising a plurality of rigid non-corrodible pipes inserted into a plurality of non-corrodible molded corner fittings. The entire assembly is designed to be non-corrodible in a wet environment and quickly, tool-free, assembled and easily placed within the confines of a bathtub or shower enclosure without the need for fasteners to secure it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a grab bar/handrail assembly for assisting the support of individuals, and in particular, to assist in a bathtub/shower enclosure.

Grab bars/handrails are often located within a bathtub or shower enclosure to assist an individual with stepping into or out of a bathtub or shower, and can be especially helpful to an elderly or infirm individual. Grab bars/handrails can also be helpful for anyone while standing; moving around; or sitting in a bathtub or shower environment where a wet floor can make it possible to slip and fall. Grab bars/handrails are typically installed onto a wall, or multiple walls, of an enclosure by means of fasteners or screws tapped into wall studs. Reference e.g. U.S. Pat. #20090211017. These typical grab bars require tools; hardware; suction cups or fasteners; and often require a professional installer or a skilled handyman for proper installation.

Numerous grab bar/handrail inventions have come forward. U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,323 to DiVito et al. is an example of a bathtub handrail that incorporates a molded plastic body and clamping arm that attaches to a bathtub by means of a number of components, some of which are metal.

Another example of a grab bar/handrail can be found in U.S. Pat. #20090205125 to Forrest which discloses an injection molded plastic assembly that attaches to a bath wall by means of a fastener such as a lag screw.

Another example of a handrail can be found in U.S. Pat. #20050160526 to Korn disclosing a removable bathtub rail for children that utilizes horizontal and vertical anchors with suction cups.

Previous grab bar/handrail devices suffer from a number of disadvantages. One important disadvantage is that they often require a skilled person to drill holes through tile and walls, and into wall studs in order to secure them properly. Another disadvantage of prior art involves the utilization of corrodible parts and/or fasteners. Still another undesirable feature of prior art can be its permanence, that is, the difficulty in removing the device when no longer needed or desired, and the cost associated with any needed repairs to wall surfaces.

It was in an effort to provide solutions to the problems associated with prior art that the present invention evolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of this novel invention to provide a grab bar/handrail assist assembly for use within bathtub and shower enclosures that is portable and free-standing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a grab bar/handrail assist assembly that does not require the use of fasteners; suction cups; tools; or hardware to assemble; install; or to make it usable.

It is yet another object of this novel invention to provide an economical solution to the need for a grab bar/handrail assist assembly, that precludes the need for any special skills to assemble; install; or to remove and disassemble when no longer needed or desired.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a grab bar/handrail assist assembly that is composed of non-corrodible parts in its entirety.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a light-weight and easily manageable grab bar/handrail assist assembly that is also structurally strong; durable; and easily kept clean.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the portable, free-standing, grab bar/handrail assist assembly 10 in accordance with the present novel invention.

FIG. 2 discloses a perspective view of the portable, free-standing, grab bar/handrail assist assembly as it would appear when set upon the floor 16 of a shower enclosure with the grab bar/handrail bars 12 at the top of the assembly set against the shower enclosure wall 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The detailed embodiment of the novel invention is disclosed herein relative to a bathtub/shower enclosure. It should be understood, however, that the present invention may be used outside of a bathtub or shower enclosure to assist an individual near a toilet, or wherever grab bar/handrail assistance might be needed. Thus, the details disclosed herein should not be considered limiting, ie. to a bathtub or shower enclosure.

With reference to FIG. 1, we have there shown an overall perspective view of the grab bar/handrail assist assembly 10.

The grab bar/handrail assist assembly 10 includes a plurality of rigid non-corrodible pipes: la; 1 b; 1 c; 2 a; 2 b; 2 c; 3 a; 3 b; 3 c; 7 a; 7 b; 7 c; 7 d. We prefer to use 1.25″ PVC, furniture grade, pipes. Also included are a plurality of non-corrodible rigid molded corner fittings. We prefer to use 1.25″ PVC furniture grade fittings. Fittings 4 a; 4 b; 4 c, are identical 4-way fittings with openings at 90 degree angles from each opening. Fittings 5 a; 5 b are identical 90 degree elbow fittings. Fittings 6 a; 6 b are identical 3-way fittings with openings at 90 degree angles from each opening. Also included are a plurality of molded end caps, 8 a; 8 b; 8 c; 8 d. Again, we prefer to use 1.25″ PVC furniture grade end caps.

With reference to FIG. 1, the various rigid pipes and fittings shown in grab bar/handrail assist assembly 10 are easily connected together to form a finished free-standing, portable, grab bar/handrail assist assembly. The base is formed by inserting rigid pipe 1 a into fittings 4 a and 5 a. Rigid pipe 1 b, which is of equal length to 1 a, is inserted into fittings 4 b and 6 a. Rigid pipe 2 a is inserted into fittings 4 a and 4 b. Rigid pipe 2 b, which is of equal length to pipe 2 a, is inserted into fittings 5 a and 6 a. Finally, rigid pipe 7 a is inserted into fitting 4 a, and rigid pipe 7 b, which is of equal length to pipe 7 a, is inserted into fitting 4 b. To finish the base, end cap 8 a is pushed onto rigid pipe 7 a, and end cap 8 b is pushed onto rigid pipe 7 b.

With reference again to FIG. 1, the height of the present invention is determined by the length of upright rigid pipes 3 a; 3 b; and 3 c, which are of equal lengths. Rigid pipe 3 a is inserted into fittings 4 a and 5 b. Rigid pipe 3 b is inserted into fittings 4 b and 4 c. Rigid pipe 3 c is inserted into fittings 6 a and 6 b.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the top portion of the present invention is formed by inserting rigid pipe 1 c, which is of equal length to pipes 1 a and 1 b, into fittings 4 c and 6 b. Accordingly, rigid pipe 2 c, which is of equal length to pipes 2 a and 2 b, is inserted into fittings 4 c and 5 b. Finally, rigid pipe 7 c is inserted into fitting 4 c, and then rigid pipe 7 d, which is of equal length to rigid pipe 7 c, is inserted into fitting 6 b. To finish the present invention, end cap 8 c is pushed onto rigid pipe 7 c and end cap 8 d is pushed onto rigid pipe 7 d. 

1. A portable, free-standing, grab bar/handrail assist assembly for placement within the confines of a bathtub or shower enclosure comprising a plurality of rigid non-corrodible pipes inserted into a plurality of rigid non-corrodible fittings, each fitting with at least two openings at 90 degree angles from each opening, to form a stable base, and likewise with at least three upright rigid non-corrodible pipes inserted into at least three rigid non-corrodible fittings at the top and at the base, each fitting with at least two openings at 90 degree angles from each opening, and within which, at the top, two rigid non-corrodible pipes are inserted, one running front to back, and one running laterally across from the top left rearward fitting to the top right rearward fitting, and thus forming an “L” shaped grab bar/handrail at the top of the assembly, and with two capped short non-corrodible rigid pipes inserted into the rearward left and right top corner fittings for added support against an enclosure wall, and likewise, with two capped short non-corrodible rigid pipes inserted into the two base left-side corner fittings for added support upon an enclosure floor surface.
 2. The portable, free-standing, grab bar/handrail assist assembly as recited in claim 1 in which all of the non-corrodible components can be easily and quickly assembled for immediate use, or easily and quickly disassembled when no longer needed, without requiring tools; hardware; or fasteners of any kind, or special skills for assembly.
 3. The portable, free-standing, grab bar/handrail assist assembly recited in claim 1 in which the length of rigid pipes assembled parallel to each other can be of variable length to allow for differences in length and width of bathtub and shower enclosures, and the variable height of individuals utilizing the assembly.
 4. The portable, free-standing, grab bar/handrail assist assembly recited in claim 2 wherein all of the materials incorporated in the assembly are made from compatible rigid PVC plastic to include the option of gluing/cementing the components together for permanent bonding, if so desired. 